Harley-Davidson Fat Boy, Track Test

Refreshed and redesigned for 2018, the entire Softail line-up from Harley-Davidson has received a much-needed makeover. The newer bikes are lighter and more agile than the outgoing models, and they easily excel over any other motorcycles in terms of highway touring. The biggest change, though, in the new line-up is the Milwaukee-Eight engine.

As you twist the Fat Boy’s throttle gently, the 1,745cc Milwaukee-Eight 107 responds instantly without any lag. The fact that it weighs a shade over 320 kilogrammes and is still quick on its heels made us appreciate all the hard work that went in to the making of this engine. Harley-Davidson has, once again, managed to do wonders. The engine offers a much more refined ride quality and superb mid-range power, making it more usable than before.

However, even with the lighter frame, the bike is still heavy and not very practical for daily use. You will surely struggle to ride this motorbike on a day-to-day basis. It also carries a very high price tag, making it lose some points in terms of value for money. Even on the track, Sarath had to wrestle with the bike to get it to obey his racing instincts. It certainly doesn’t belong on the track, and because of its poor lap time it also lost out on points.

The beautiful engine aside, the Fat Boy also looks very handsome on the road. The chunky chrome dome oval-shaped LED headlight looks absolutely gorgeous and beautifully balances the retro-futuristic image of the new Fat Boy. The quality levels are good, but certainly not as premium as, say, the Indian Chief.

Certainly, the new Softails have improved tremendously, but highway touring still remains their forte.